Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Sorry, sorry, sorry....

I know - I'm like the worst blogger on the planet. Much to report - not scintillating, but long - so I'll probably break it up into parts. Part the First, San Francisco.

Had two events on Friday - the first was in Santa Rosa, at the Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary Cafe. A several-course lunch, including: potato leek soup, leek quiche with celery root remoulade, boeuf bourguignonne, and reine de saba cake. Everything was delicious, and prepared by the students. It was kind of a crazy event, I kept having to go up to the podium to hold forth. Weird. But fun. And I met a 98-year-old woman who I'd've sworn was 72. And the people who taught at and studied at the cafe were all completely great... one of them ran after me to tell me her story about how she once made Quail in Rose Petal Sauce for a man she was in love with who turned out to be gay.

In the evening I had a reading at Book Passage in Corte Madera. In between, my escort and I went to Sausalito to pick up the rental car I'd be using to drive up to see my very oldest friend Matt in Fort Bragg (California, not North Carolina.) We were late picking it up, and my escort insulted the Hertz guy, so I found myself in the middle of this whole big thing, but all turned out well.

The Book Passage reading was great, too. Well, actually, to be honest, I felt like I wasn't really on. But I think people liked it anyway. And the women who work at Book Passage are just fucking amazing. I mean really. Everything booksellers are meant to be in my sexy daydreams.

Then I got in a car and drove to Mendocino in the middle of the night. I almost fell asleep and died. But then I drank two diet pepsis and chewed a pack of juicy fruit, and didn't. And then I was in Mendocino, with Matt. And his wife, Laura. And all was well.

Glad to hear you're having a good time (and good readings and good food!)in California.

I don't know if I'd ever get sick of potato leek soup, as Rod said. Love, love, love it! In fact, I think I have some in the freezer that I made a while back. Maybe I need to thaw it out for dinner . . .

I finished your book and it hit home for me as soon as I started reading it. Like you, I have PCOS and am always being told "sooner is better than later." Plus, I am also stuck in a temp job. Ironically, I live with my brother and his name is Eric! :-)

Finished your book last night & absolutely loved it! Loved getting *the bigger picture* of the Project. And I loved your insight at the beginning that something could be simple, but not necessarily easy. I really do find you inspiring!

Hi Julie,I just thought you'd get a kick out of knowing that a copy of your book was shipped by Amazon to me here in Albania of all places! So now you know where at least one copy is living :) Your book was fun to read and inspired me to make that potato and leek soup!Kim (a Canadian living in Albania)

I too was at the Corte Madera reading, and I'm glad I went -- in a few short weeks I'd already forgotten how FUNNY your book is. (The woman who introduced you, by the way, did an amazing job!) Glad you didn't die on the way to Mendocino, and glad I made the trip ALL THE WAY FROM S.F. (now that's dedication...) Cheers from the girl with the jacket you liked.